February 23, 2007
Doctors Who Fail to Diagnose
Part of my recent absence from blogging the last week, had to do with my physical health. My period was 3 1/2 weeks late and I knew I wasn’t pregnant, but my doctor insisted I have a blood test done because of my “erratic menstrual history and fertility troubles.” That’s the nice way he put it. He really meant to say “because your body is fucked up.”
I’ve always had “female troubles”. From the first time I got my monthly bill I knew I was headed for problems. I couldn’t wear a tampon at 12 years old because my grandmother was adamant that I’d never get married because my hymen would be stretched and broken. I hated wearing those gigantic, diaper-like maxi pads that my mother bought. They were horrible. I remember being so paranoid that the thing would slip out of my underpants and down my leg at school. At 13, in seventh grade, I started using my allowance to buy my own sanitary napkins.
Many years later in college, I finally had the courage to attempt tampons again. Not to sound disgusting, but I was only able to succeed at the task because I had become somewhat sexually active. (Mother, if you are reading this, I’m so very sorry.)
At age 19, my period stopped entirely for 19 months. I went to doctor after doctor, trying to get someone to listen to me. I wanted someone to address my concerns. These male physicians looked at me with blank stares, asking ridiculous questions like, “Are you pregnant?”, “Have you gained weight recently?”, or “Have you noticed any changes in your health in the last few months?”. Once I responded with a rude, “Well, whey the fuck do you think I’m here?”
The one female doctor at the clinic was so booked with patients it was a shot in hell that I’d get to see her.
I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or PCOS. I always thought it was a bullshit “disease” that doctors claim isn’t a disease at all, but a condition that often occurs in overweight or obese women. It causes menstruation to stop, hair to grow in places it isn’t welcome, hormones to act out of whack, migraines that feel like being stuck in a grip vice and infertility.
At age 19, I was 5’5″ tall and weighed 146 pounds. Only 16 pounds over my “normal weight” according to height and frame. I remember my body mass index was 24 and my doctor suggested it be 20 or 21. I think that was the day my body image crisis began and I put on more weight.
Years went by with no help. There is no cure for PCOS but it “can be controlled with diet and exercise.” Yep. Just what a girl 16 pounds overweight wants to hear.
Skipping over various infertility problems during my marriage and the 2 years it took to conceive my son, I recently have been having more problems with my cycles. My doctor diagnosed me with Mennorhagia or excessive blood loss during menstruation. It often occurs in women with an iron deficiency or anemia. My first instict was to drop kick him and ask him if this, too, is another bullshit diagnosis.
I adore my doctor. It took me years of switching physicians to finally feel comfortable with him, but I suppose history repeats itself and I’m worried that this isn’t the proper diagnosis. I’ve been begging him to check my thyroid again. My last test was in October. I know that’s the problem.
I suffer the migraines, I’m always tired, I have screwed up cycles, I never feel rested after sleeping eight hours. I have difficulty in cold weather and I’m struggling with weight loss.
I’ve read every medical encyclopedia about hypothyroidism and I just know that’s what’s wrong with me. My doctor however, says my tests don’t indicate a problem. But, I read that 10% of women suffer from mild hypothyroidism and it is often undetected. What more can I say to this doctor to get him to listen?
I just don’t get it. It angers me. I’m frustrated. I feel like I’m being ignored. I feel like he thinks I’m crazy and that if he pretends not to notice I’ll stop bothering him.
Maybe I am crazy.
I’ve done everything he told me to do. I quit smoking. I joined Weight Watchers to become healthier and to eat nutrionally. I joined a gym and I work out 4 days a week. What more can I do? Isn’t it up to the physician at some point?
Anyone have any advice? Do I change doctors again? Do I bother him non-stop until he does something? What would you do?
Posted by Dana @ 8:38 AM • Uncategorized
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February 23rd, 2007 at 9:04 AM, Janet a.k.a Wonder Mom Says:
Jeez. I’m sorry.
Instinctively, I want to say change doctors, but you have done that so many times and you like this one.
So I think you should pester him until he listens…If you can afford any tests he may prescribe…if your insurance won’t cover it. Go for it.
You need to find out what’s wrong and how to treat it properly.
When I was in my early 20′s I stopped getting my period. For months. The doctor dismissed it. Said it was normal and not to worry. I could go 3-4 months without one.
I was severely underweight and if I didn’t wise up on my own, who knows what damage I could’ve done to myself? Sometimes they just don’t know.
February 23rd, 2007 at 9:08 AM, Dana Says:
Janet, that’s my fear. What if they don’t know. What if this is all my own imagination. I’m really starting to think I’m crazy. But I just know something isn’t right. And I don’t know where to turn.
February 23rd, 2007 at 2:09 PM, Michele Says:
As for me… You keep bugging him. You tell him you’ve done x,y,z – there’s not change, what’s the next step? I also suggest writing out what you want to tell him, and reading it right off of the paper. After you tell him you’ve done these things, your quality of life is effected, and you want to know what it is you can do now, as you think you’ve done everything you can. See what he says. I myself have “female issues” – and nothing anyone does helps.
February 23rd, 2007 at 11:37 PM, Kendra Says:
Amazing enough, I just found from a dermatologist I may have PCOS.
Funny thing is, every single symptom of PCOS that is present, I’ve actually seen a doctor about, 10 years ago.
The actual truth of the matter is that doctors are FAILING TO DIAGNOSE PCOS ALTOGETHER and some DON’T KNOW THE CONDITION ACTUALLY EXISTS.
Change doctors and change doctors now. Research. This is actually UP TO YOU and not doctors, parents, signitificant others to help you with this. YOU have to actually take the responsibility and PUSH EVERY SINGLE SECOND that someone is not doing something for this condition.
This can turn into cancer.
You can lose your life.
February 24th, 2007 at 1:24 PM, yoshi Says:
As someone who used to work in the medical profession, I have to insist that you just keep bugging your doctor.
If nothing else, present him with any type of documentation you read about what you suspect, and just keep telling him that it’s your body, and you know how it’s supposed to feel.
Doctors can get stubborn sometimes like that. No one wants to admit they’re wrong, especially doctors.
February 24th, 2007 at 3:52 PM, Dana Says:
Thank you all for the good advice. I made an appointment for this coming Friday and I wrote EVERYTHING down that I want answered or addressed. We’ll see how that goes.
February 24th, 2007 at 6:08 PM, mammacheryl Says:
Late coming to the conversation, Dana, but I just wanted to give you my perspective. A couple years ago, I realized that I can ask doctors for what I want. I realized that I was an adult. I’m educated, and I know my body better than everybody else. Most doctors are prepared for someone like that, and I’ve had to switch doctors all the time as well. I think I finally found one. At my first appointment with her, she really listened and absorbed what I was saying… about what was going on in my life, how I wanted to get pregnant soon, what my current issue was, and what I needed to happen in order to get through it. Then she told me how she could help. I loved that response.
By all means, try really hard with your doc this next time. Tell him outright that you need someone who will actually listen and try to figure out a solution with you. And if he isn’t receptive, call the physician referral service for your clinic or community and get matched up with a new one. And KEEP TRYING until you find someone who will help you. Some doctors are just dense, and they think that female problems can just be “lived” with and aren’t worth treating. That’s ridiculous in this day and age.
One of the reasons I left my last primary doctor was because it was a too-busy clinic and his nurse sucked. I had just had Ben, and the ER had diagnosed me with an enlarged heart. They referred me to cardiology to get an ultrasound of my heart and said my primary doctor would get the results and go over the options with me.
I had to call my primary five freaking times after the ultrasound. Finally, I got a rushed, annoyed call from his nurse saying that the test was normal and I’m fine. I was so upset that she treated me that way. I had just spent the last week worrying that my heart was going to give out before I lived long enough to see Ben go to preschool. Sure, it’s great that my heart is fine, but that clinic didn’t realize what those results MEANT to me and my life and my family.
Not-quite-good-enough health is intensely personal and it affects every aspect of your life. Good doctors know that disruptions in normal functions of your body are upsetting and deserve to be treated.
And if he tells you it’s just because your overweight, tell him that you’re working on losing weight, but what is he going to do in the meantime. Okay. I’m done now. Good luck, dear.
February 24th, 2007 at 9:01 PM, Beth F. Says:
Dana,
I have Hashimoto’s disease which causes hypothyroidism. It’s really important to make sure that when your doctor orders the thyroid blood tests, that they are measuring not just your TSH levels, but also your T3 and T4. If your doctor won’t do all of these, switch doctors. At the same time of my first thyroid blood test, I also had an ultrasound done of my actual thyroid. Also, hypothyroidism is often hereditary, do any females on your Mom’s side of the family have this condition?
I think once you continue to lose weight and your body really gets used to the activity, you’re fatigue should ease up, your body is still tired from the relatively new activites it’s going through. Keep pushing on with WW, you are doing a great job, but each week you will start to feel better and better!’
Keep us posted and best of luck.
February 25th, 2007 at 6:00 PM, Anonymous Purple Car Says:
Hi Dana,
I am not sure who you see or if you are only trying doctors in the immediate area. I have never been happy with any doctors in the immediate area and I was really frusterated when I was trying to get pregnant with my daughter. I don’t remember who referred me but I started using a doctor in Wausau and I was thoroughly impressed. I used Wausau for having my daughter, (her pediatrician is also there) my breast biopsys, and tomorrow for my knee surgery. Just a thought for you – its a few more miles but they go the extra mile!
Good Luck!!
February 26th, 2007 at 9:25 AM, tori Says:
You are not crazy! I had messed up menstrual stuff, and ended up with a hysterectomy last year. Two years ago I had thyroid cancer. I am not saying that is what you have because it is very rare (lucky me!) but if you feel something is wrong, don’t give up until they pinpoint it. My cancer only got diagnosed because I kept going to doctor after doctor saying “something is wrong”. Half of them looked at me like I was crazy, but I don’t care! I finally found a doctor who knew what he was doing and saved my life by diagnosing my cancer. Good luck to you, and seriously, don’t give up! Cancer isn’t likely, but you know your body, and if you feel something is wrong, it probably is!
February 26th, 2007 at 10:16 AM, Dana Says:
I want to thank each and every one of you for your words of encouragement, your advice and your compassion. I’m very anxious to get to the doctor to address everything. I’ve got my list ready, my questions will not go unanswered. I can only hope that my doc is receptive and not ignorant.
February 26th, 2007 at 3:42 PM, Stefanie Says:
Hi Dana,
I know it’s tough to argue with a doctor but I’ve been through stuff like this many many times and the only way to deal with it is to be adament. Changing doctors is a last resort because so many of them are the same. But if you are not feeling better and the doctor won’t do anything else then get the hell out. You, of course, know your body better than any doctor. Be strong!!
October 16th, 2008 at 4:53 PM, The Dana Files » It Happens Every Time, But This Day Is Different Says:
[...] I wondered. Does she even know anything about me? Does she know that I’m struggling? Does she know about my history with PCOS? Does she know it took three years to conceive Dawson, or that I had a miscarriage when Dawson [...]